UPDATE: Thank you all SO very much for your incredible D.C. perspective! I’m still reviewing all your comments and they’re incredibly helpful. Taking notes! –Ree

As a parent, I sometimes have these sudden revelations, followed by sweeping statements about the way things are going to be from now on.

Yesterday, I decided the next trip we take as a family is going to have cultural and historical significance. After temporarily losing my mind and considering places outside the United States, I came to my senses and settled on Washington D.C., which seems like the perfect destination to begin our new era of educationally rich family vacations.

My baby wanted to know if Universal Orlando would fall into that category. I didn’t have the heart to tell him no.

My mom took my oldest brother and me on a trip to D.C. when I was in fifth grade and he was in eighth. It made a profound impression on me, and I still remember some of the things I saw, took in, and learned. But it’s been a long time, and I don’t remember every detail.

I want to take the time to plan a trip to Washington that will allow Marlboro Man, the kids, and me to see all there is to see, to make the most of our time, and to come away with a breadth and depth of knowledge about our nation’s capital…well, and our nation in general. So I have a few questions for those of you who’ve been to D.C. in recent years:

1. What are the absolutely essential, not-to-be-missed things to do and see in Washington, D.C.?

2. What are the more “Tier 2″ things to do in Washington, D.C.—things that are added bonuses?

3. In order to do it right, how many days in Washington, D.C. are necessary?

4. Is it best to plot your own course and see things according to your own schedule? Or is it better to—gulp—use some kind of tour company? I should tell you I don’t like appointments or the feeling of being trapped. Ha.

5. Where is the best/most centrally located area to stay in Washington, D.C.?

I started looking into how to plan the trip, but was quickly overwhelmed by the information on the internet. So I thought I’d reach out to you D.C. aficionados and see if you could point me in a few directions. I want this to be a great experience for these children I gave birth to.

702 Comments and 115 Replies

101

Sandi L On Monday, June 10 at 9:38 am

Ree, I took a group of 21 middle/high school private school students to DC the other year for a week. One thing that made a huge impact on them was the Holocaust Museum. They also enjoyed the monuments and the Smithsonian Buildings – especially the Air and Space Museum. We did changing of the guard at Arlington and the National Zoo- . We took the train into the city (we stayed in Alexandria) to go shopping at a huge mall (the train dropped off and picked up on the basement level of the mall) and the kids loved that! Having been a few times now, I have found that fall is a better time to go to avoid the crowds and heat! Actually, we went to meet family there last November, the day after Thanksgiving, and stayed thru the weekend, and the place was practically deserted – and everything was open! It was so much better than the visits I did in April and June!

102

Heather On Monday, June 10 at 9:40 am

Forgot to mention you should sign up for DC Groupon emails. We got a great deal on a boat ride to Mt. Vernon and tour tickets while there. We loved both Mt. Vernon and Monticello.

103

NancyE On Monday, June 10 at 9:44 am

You must kayak on the Potomac! It was the highlight of DC for my kids. If you can make it out Mt Vernon it would be worth it for your ranching family to see how innovative a farmer like Washington was.

104

Donna B On Monday, June 10 at 9:45 am

Won’t comment on all of it, but some of the things to do would be The Holocaust Museum, the Newseum, and the Spy Museum (which is hands on and a lot of fun). Staying centrally would be Dupont Circle with great food and eclectic museums and people watching.

Also loved the Air and Space Museum and if you can write to your local senator, you can get a tour of congress from underneath using the senators subway system. That is very fun.

105

Katharine On Monday, June 10 at 9:50 am

I’ve lived in the DC area for close to 20 years now and this winter I took my daughter into DC winter break. We stayed at the Courtyard Washington Convention Center which is next door to the Spy Museum, across the street from the Portrait Gallery and a block from Metro Center right in the heart of Penn Quarter. We were able to walk to the museums on the Mall in about 20 minutes. She’s also a foodie and there are tons of amazing restaurants in the area as well.

We didn’t have a plan of what to do with the exception of dinner where we had reservations at all the places she wanted to eat.

106

Lisa D. On Monday, June 10 at 9:51 am

We used to live in the DC suburbs and have been back as tourists since we moved away.

The number 1 piece of advice when traveling to DC is wear comfortable shoes! It is 2 1/2 miles from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial!

Number 2 piece of advice… don’t try to see it all. Enjoy what you do see and go back again someday.

Number 3… DO NOT DRIVE! Use the Metro (subway). A think that is different about DC’s subway than other cities is that you put your ticket through the machine when you go into the station AND when you go out of the station.

I think the best of the tier 1 items to go into is The Capitol. Near there, a tier 2 item is the Library of Congress. The building is gorgeous. It is gilded with aluminum because that was an expensive and progressive metal at the time.

The most important place we took our kids is Arlington National Cemetery. Probably not their favorite place, but they need to know and appreciate what it cost for them to live as they do today. Arlington is actually easy to combine with the Lincoln Memorial/Korean Memorial/Vietnam Wall. They are right across the river from each other and it is an easy walk. I know the Vietnam Wall is more well known, but I find the Korean Memorial more striking.

The National Park Service has “Junior Ranger” programs. It has a packet to fill out about the sites on the Mall. Our kids liked it because it turned touring into treasuring hunting.

The Air & Space Museum and the Museum of American History are always fun. If your kids are really into the air & space thing, the Udvar-Hazy annex by Dulles airport has BIG stuff (space shuttle, Enola Gay, Concord, etc.)

Tier 2… There are (or used to be) free 1 hour programs/concerts at the Kennedy Center at supper time. It is fun to go on the roof of the Kennedy Center at night and look out over the city. (also it is FREE). The hotel we stayed at when we visited last was walking distance from the Kennedy Center and the GMU/Foggy Bottom Metro Station. There are many great places to stay. We liked this one because there was a kitchen. So we walked to the grocery store and could feed ourselves! (I think Trader Joe’s is now the closest store; the Safeway in the Watergate Building has closed.) http://washingtonguestsuites.com/

Don’t go out of your way to see it, but if you happen to be walking near the National Building Museum, go inside to see the atrium. It is where the main inaugural ball is held.

Enjoy your trip! I can’t wait to hear about it!

107

Catherine On Monday, June 10 at 9:51 am

I’m a native Oklahoman, but have lived in DC for the past 20+ years.

I agree with the recommendation to go at off times – Spring and Summer are crazy crowded here, but November, particularly around Thanksgiving, is pretty empty.

You can arrange tours of the Capitol and White House through your Congressman or Senators offices. You used to be able to arrange tours of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing through your representatives as well, but I don’t know if you can still do that.

The National Zoo
Arlington National Cemetery
Air and Space Museum
Natural History Museum

Old Town Alexandria for some fun shopping and food

109

et_phonehome82 On Monday, June 10 at 9:51 am

We stayed with family right outside DC, so sorry we can’t help there. But we loved loved loved the Natural History Museum. We could have spent all day there and then some. The Lincoln Memorial was neat to see too! The most expensive thing for us was the food…. Be prepared.

110

Deanna from Wisconsin On Monday, June 10 at 9:53 am

I was there in March and will be going again in a week with my 13 year old niece for a school trip.

First, be sure you pick up a national park passport. These are nifty little books that you can stamp when you visit a national park or monument with the day you were there. Every monument is listed, and then you have a goal to go to all the national parks!

My not to be missed:
1. Arlington National Cemetery with the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
2. Walk around the National Mall to see all the monuments and the Capitol
3. Ford’s Theatre
4. Smithsonian Museums: American History, Natural History and Air and Space.
5. National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
6. White House–which doesn’t take long because you can’t go in right now
7. Spy Museum

We stayed at L’Enfant Plaza. The good part is that it is 2 blocks from the National Mall and there is a subway station in the hotel. The bad part is that there aren’t restaurants nearby. I’d suggest staying closer to the White House/Ellipse area

111

Linda R On Monday, June 10 at 9:53 am

Smithsonian museums are a must. At the National Museum of American History don’t miss Julia Child’s kitchen!
Big tip: carry only a very small purse or bag. Leave any large backpacks or purses at your hotel. It makes going through security a breeze, and everyone behind you happier as well! (When we were there a lady in front of us had an enormous purse — and it was searched. And searched… and searched…)

112

Melissa F. On Monday, June 10 at 9:54 am

Hi Ree,
I am having the same issues. My girls and I have been wanting to take a real vacation forever and we decided on Washington DC. They are ages 10 and 13. We’ll take the train down and back which leaves us with two whole days in DC and I am so overwhelmed trying to plan an itinerary for us. There is so much to see, so much to do!!! I will be eagerly checking back at the comments section of this post regularly to see what folks have to suggest. Maybe we’ll see you there!!
Best, Melissa

113

Nancy M On Monday, June 10 at 9:54 am

Take a Segway Tour – it’s fun and a great easy way to get around to see all of the monuments in a day!

114

jen On Monday, June 10 at 9:55 am

It’s been a few years since we went, but the public transportation was awesome there. You could buy a subway card and load it and then it was charged by the stop.- Don’t feel like walking the next 2 blocks? Hop on the subway and pay 10 cents for the ride. It was great. Also, there is a little diner right near the capital building that serves the best sweet potato pie! I don’t remember what it was called, but we asked a few people in suits on the street and they all directed us to the same place! Don’t miss the Smithsonian and the tour of the theater where Lincoln was shot was also memorable…

EHS On Monday, June 10 at 10:44 am

Guess you haven’t been in awhile – Subway has never been ten cents – minimum ride is at least $1.70 at offpeak times and $2.10 peak – with an additional $1.00 charge if you don’t have a SmartTrip card. Much better and cheaper to walk!!!

115

Tina S On Monday, June 10 at 9:56 am

Our daughter lives in Silver Springs so we visit the DC area often. You can go there for weeks and not see everything. There are still so many things we haven’t seen! Our family loved the Udvar-Hazy Center and spent the better part of a day there. My son’s favorite place to eat was Sweet Georgia Brown’s….soul food! The Sunday brunch is amazing! I know your family will have a fabulous time.

116

Brenda On Monday, June 10 at 9:56 am

Always a good idea to start your trip with a bus tour. This gives you a good overview to decide where you want to spend more time.
It has been several years so I am not sure if the rules have changed… Buying your tickets after 3 pm, they were good through the next day. The first afternoon we finished at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Rode the Metro home. The next day we picked up and hit some duplication. Interesting to hear different guide views.

Definitely walk the veterans monuments. Such an eye opener to realize how young the Viet vets were & how old the Korean vets.

Do a night driving tour of all the monuments.
Museums can be quite time consuming. Choose wisely.

117

Heather in OK On Monday, June 10 at 9:57 am

Our family went a couple years ago in September. The weather was great and it wasn’t that busy.

– Definitely ride the Metro. I grew up in KS, now live in OK, and has kids who are growing up in OK which translates to NO metro services around here at all! It was quite the experience! You must experience the Metro!!! And take pictures!! The architecture in the tunnels is really cool!

We stayed at a hotel in Alexandria. The employees at the hotel were the most helpful in finding the best place to park and which station to use! Told us which stations to avoid, which had free parking, etc.

– Don’t underestimate how long it takes to walk the Mall!!!! Take good walking shoes!!

– The little restaurant in the Smithsonian Castle has really good food. And it’s cheaper than the nasty little food carts that appear at lunch time all over the Mall.

– We spent two days. We could have spent a week!!!

– Definitely visit Arlington. Definitely. And plan on spending at least half a day. We were going to just stop by and check it out, see the changing of the guard, etc. then get on the road. We ended up spending about 2.5 hours and we still didn’t get to see everything we wanted to see. And be ready to pay for your parking while you are there.

118

Susan Neal On Monday, June 10 at 9:59 am

Stay at the J W Marriot on Pennsylvania Avenue. You can walk to White house, Lincoln Memorial, National Monument, etc.
Don’t miss the Smithsoninians and the National Zoo!

119

Julie M On Monday, June 10 at 10:00 am

We just spent a week in Washington, D.C. at the end of March. The Washington Monument is closed for repair. Arlington Cemetary is definitely a stop to make, the Lincoln Memorial was VERY popular, meaning, there were a lot of visitors, even in the evening. Which by the way is a good place to take a night photo of the Washington Monument, you can’t tell from that far away that there is repairs going on. Air and Space Museum. We went on a tour of the Capital, before we went, I wrote my State Congressmans office to get tickets for a tour, and we got a personalized tour, (just the 2 of us BTW) of the Capital by an intern from the Colorado Congressman’s office. We got to go a few places, no other tour group gets to go, AND it was free!! The National Cathedral is pretty awe inspiring. If you go to the National Archives, you need to plan that as a first thing in the morning, get in line early and plan to wait in line a long time, unless you plan and book a timed tour. I personally like to go on my own, so we got there an hour before opening to wait in line, after 3 days of trying to get in. If you want to go to the National Holocaust Museum, it is free, but you have to get tickets, online, WAY in advance. I started planning in December for our March trip and couldn’t get tickets.
The Metro is so convenient. You can get tickets for the tour buses, you can get on and off at stops of your choosing, and you can also take one out to Arlington Cemetery and back, without having to rent a car. From the Arlington Cemetery you can walk to the Iwo Jima Memorial, it is huge, not what I expected, well worth it.
Just take comfortable shoes, and plan to put in miles each day. Most of the places have bag check and security to pass through to get in.
Have a great time, it is a vacation we will remember always.
P.S. I have the iPhone App Urban Spoon, it helped us find some great places to eat!!

Julie M On Monday, June 10 at 10:14 am

One more piece of info, I have seen a few posts about touring the White House, as far as I know, you still can not get into the White House because of the budget cuts!! We were bummed!!

120

Sharmin On Monday, June 10 at 10:01 am

Definitely the Spy Museum and the Holocaust Museum. There is so much to see and so many great places to eat!

121

Sue S. On Monday, June 10 at 10:01 am

Hi Ree,
We’re are normally not “tour company” tourists, but one of our most beautiful experiences in Washington D.C. was the evening tour we took of all of the main memorials. It was all very magical and very moving with how everything is back-lit. The Iwo Jima Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery at night is stunning. It brought my husband, who was in the Marine Corps, to tears.
When we saw the Vietnam Memorial, it was at dusk and the fireflies were rising out of the lawns. It was magical. It was like they represented thousands of souls who had died in the wars. Our two boys were 10 and 12. They had never seen fireflies before. They were fascinated.
Others have given you great ideas. The boys loved the Spy Museum! The Duck Tours are fun also. Of course, the Smithsonian is amazing.
The nice thing about taking tours with a guide is they give you interesting background info on everything, which you would not get visiting locations on your own…
See if you can get into a White House tour. If you plan far enough in advance, you may be able to get in. We were not able to go, even though we had gone through all the security checks they require ahead of time. For some reason, we were not on the list to go in. The boys were devastated. This was 7 years ago. It may be easier now.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience!

122

Eva Marie On Monday, June 10 at 10:01 am

Get outside the city and do Mount Vernon and a civil war battle field. National Gallery of Art is amazing and cool in the summer. the best thing about DC is that practically all the major attractions are free.

123

Ted C. On Monday, June 10 at 10:05 am

1. Arlington Cemetery & the Changing of the Guard is not to be missed.
2. The Udvar-Hazy Center is not to be missed, but realize that it is located at Dulles Airport, and it is a 20-minute drive from DC. http://airandspace.si.edu/udvarhazy/
3. Yes, view the monuments at night.
4. Every Smithsonian Museum (including the zoo).
5. The National Archives where the Declaration of Independence is housed.
6. The International Spy Museum.
7. Ford’s Theatre (MAKE RESERVATIONS N O W!!! because tickets go quickly)
8. Go to Fogo de Chao – your carnivores will love it! http://www.fogodechao.com/index.php?id=165

124

rebecca On Monday, June 10 at 10:05 am

DC is my very favorite place, and I would love to go again and again. I don’t think it is possible to see all that you want to see even in a week. I have gone twice, just three days each time and have only seen a fraction.
it is so easy to do on your own, there is a bus tour that goes continuously through out the day. you can get off at one location see what you want and then catch the one later to go to the next area. it’s great.
monuments are a must, I was so overwhelmed with pride of my country when I visited them.
also the holocaust museum was an experience that although I probably can’t express properly, but am so glad that I did experience. my friend and I were unable to speak for quite a while after we left. because there are just no words. but I wouldn’t trade it.
it is a dream of mine to go back to DC, you all will have a great time, I just know it.

125

Linda in MN On Monday, June 10 at 10:06 am

We were in DC visiting our daughter in May. Best freebies: The National Mall (wear good walking shoes), and anything with National in front of the Name (National Zoo; National Botanical Gardens; National Cathedral; National Air and Space Museum; etc). Best stuff we had to pay for: Spy Museum; Ford’s Theater; Holocaust Museum (this was a tough museum to visit). Second advice – Use the Metro: It is very easy to understand and get around. If you go outside of the city a little, hotels are usually a bit cheaper, but you can fine some inexpensive B & B’s and hotels in the Woodly Park area (VERY close to the Zoo). (specifically Adams Inn on Lanier, we stayed there and it was very reasonable). Please note that if you ride the metro, and you do not want to walk up or down the escalators – you need to stand on the right side, so the walkers can use the left side!!)

126

Samantha E. On Monday, June 10 at 10:07 am

1) Things to see:
–National Archives: for the Declaration and Constitution. Really, see this even if you see nothing else.
–Holocaust Museum
–Monuments: Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, MLK, Vietnam, and World War II are my personal favorites. I think most of them are actually more beautiful at night, and less crowded typically. Jefferson is across the water, but the others I listed are all walkable from each other with good shoes.
–Supreme Court: there are separate lines to watch for 5 minutes at a time or as long as you like. This was really interesting to me as an adult and I think it would have been educational as a kid.
–National Cathedral: breathtakingly beautiful.
–Library of Congress: beautiful buildings with interesting exhibits.
–Smithsonian: pick your favorites.

3) I’d do it in several days, so you can see everything you want, be a little spontaneous, and not feel rushed. That might let you make some side trips, too– like Mt. Vernon, Monticello, the Baltimore Aquarium, etc.

4) Make your own itinerary. Just about everything on DC is free to get into– no need to pay someone to figure it out for you.

5) As close to the Mall as you can. For business trips, I’ve stayed at the Embassy Suites Convention Center, which was nice and had a great free breakfast. I’ve also stayed at the Capitol Hill Hotel, which was very nice, right next to a Metro station and only a few minutes walk from the Capitol Building.

Also– get Metro passes, don’t bother with renting a car, paying for parking and trying to park.

127

Ann On Monday, June 10 at 10:08 am

The Washington Monument is still closed due to damage sustained during the earthquake, but check out the view from the Old Post Office Building. The White house isn’t doing tours because of sequestration, and it can take six months to get tickets when they are. The double decker bus tours might give you a good overview of DC. I haven’t been, but the National Cathedral is supposed to be beautiful. The Library of Congress is a neat place, and the ceiling is BEAUTIFUL. You can see them making money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but it is only open during the week. Check out Goldstar.com for discounted tickets to many events in the area.

128

Laura from PA On Monday, June 10 at 10:08 am

I won’t give more suggestions since there’s so many, and they all seem to be great. But I will tell you that if you want a tour of the Capitol, my best friend gives those! I can put you in contact with her to set up a time! Just use my email ([email protected]). She even gave a tour to Kirk Cameron!!

1. Obviously, the museums on the mall. Something to note is that there are not many places to eat on the east end of the Mall (near the capitol building). BUT, there is a restaurant in the Museum of the American Indian and even if you don’t tour the museum, you MUST eat in the restaurant. Holocause Museum is a must as well as seeing the memorials (especially the Korean War Memorial) at night.
2. Newseum, Ford’s Theater
3. 4 days
4. It isn’t hard to set your own itinerary (google “Washington, D.C. in 4 days” or however long you will be there and you will find sample itineraries). If you do use a tour company, I recommend using one of the bus tours that has a route that runs all day and lets you get off and then back on the next bus that comes by. There aren’t many metro stops around the Mall and the bus helps get you around a little faster
5. We always stayed in Crystal City in Arlington. Not in the center, but cheaper and about as close as you can get to a major Metro station that will take you anywhere (some of the hotels actually sit on top of the underground station). It is much harder and more expensive to get a central hotel near a metro stop.

130

Sue Hess On Monday, June 10 at 10:09 am

Must Do’s: Jefferson Memorial (#1 favorite – read the walls they’re so many things – and most of all they make you wonder where our education systems has gone…)
Lincoln Memorial, WWII memorial, Vietnam Memorial.

The capitol (- and you have to do the tour. The things you learn on the tour make it so much richer.

The American History/Natural History parts of the smithsonian. Air and space museum.

Arlington Cemetary – making sure to do the tomb of the unknown soldier and Kennedy’s tomb.

131

Amy K. On Monday, June 10 at 10:09 am

Hi! DC is a great place to visit. I have lived her 13 years now and having grown up on a farm in KS. I always recommend to people to stay near the metro whether in DC or VA. I am a big fan of the Hilton and Embassy suites right on King Street in Alexandria – Old Town (VA)(actually on the west end of Old Town, but across the street from the King Street Metro. Or stay in DC or Crystal Sity. metro is easy to access from DCA airport, which I recommend you fly into unless you want to get a car or cab from Dulles (45 min drive traffic depending.)

The Washington Monument is closed due to the earthquake we had in Aug 2012. It’s being repaired and will take up to a year.

I recommend at least 5 days and bring very good walking shoes. Normally I tell people to plan 1-3 days wandering the National Mall area and stopping into the Smithsoniam museums (especially the National Archives-it’s wonderful). you could spends days in one museum so pick those you really want to see and have fun exploring their treasures.

You can walk from the Captial all the way to the Lincoln Memorial (one of my fav things to do Memorial Weekend.) and if adventurous, continue the walk to Arlington National Cemetary. A must see. That could be a half day trip on it’s own and the metro stops there. I recommend getting there when it opens to avoid the crowds. You need to see the Changing of the Guard. Don’t miss the Jefferson Memorial along theTidal Basin.

There is the Spy Museum and a host of other things in the DC area. Also rent a car to visit Mount Vernon or have a cab take you but that might be a bit expensive. It’s beautiful drive (20 min from old town Alexandria) Get there EARLY in the morning….crowds can be very large, especially during Spring Break and the summer. Allow at least half a day then go into Old Town Alexandria and wander around King Street near the water. Wonderful shops there.

You can metro all over the city and it’s easy. I don’t recommend driving, or you will have to deal with our traffic which is NO fun. I recommend the metro pass. You can buy them in advance and it save a lot of hassle and time. Link to the DC metro site. http://www.wmata.com/fares/metrorail.cfm

So much to see in DC. Give yourself a good week, you won’t be able to see it all, but you will certainly enjoy. Email if you want more information. I am happy to help!! Have fun!!

132

becky On Monday, June 10 at 10:11 am

There’s so much to see! We saw everything when we went. Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Monument, Whitehouse, every darn museum, Lincoln memorial, teddy Roosevelt memorial, Korean war memorial, the Madison house, there’s so much to see, a week of twelve hour sight seeing days would maybe cover it all!

133

Mary Pap On Monday, June 10 at 10:11 am

An evening tour with stops at some of the monuments is great. The way everything is lit makes a different experience from daylight. I noticed that kids wandered a little more. Museums during the day make for monuments at night ra more relaxing experience. Definetly the Duck Boats. Arlington Cemetary. If you can get some info before you go you all will feel smarter when you get to each place. Just relax and enjoy. Don’t think you will do it all. You will go back.

Since you homeschool I highly suggest going sometime other than summer. A great time is in September right after school is back in and the weather is still nice. Also early spring can be nice. The Cherry Blossom festival time is beautiful but tremendously crowded.

I have not read all the comments but some tier two things are the Treasurery Department where they print the money, the Old Post Office has some gorgeous views from the top, I saw mention of Ebenezers’s coffee house which is nice to sit a spell, the architecture of Central Station is amazing and lots of choices in eating.

135

Fran R. On Monday, June 10 at 10:12 am

My husband is a Vietnam Veteran and my dad is a Korean War Veteran. All of the war memorials are very moving and I believe would be to anyone whether you have a veteran in your family or not. The Mall Area of DC and Arlington Cemetary including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are well worth your time. I think you could do this all on your own, we are not the “tour” kind of people and have been able to see easily the things we wanted to without a guide. And we have only done weekend jaunts to DC. The underground train systems work well and are an experience on their own. Just don’t try it at rush hour!!!!!! There are so many great museums too. Ask your kids which ones interest them. The Ford Theater is great. Take as much time as you can. I’m not even sure a week is long enough!!!! Enjoy your time!!

136

Kathleen Tuohy On Monday, June 10 at 10:13 am

Something a little bit different that blood thirsty little boys might love is the Franciscan Monastary. They have real catacombs underground! Originally patterned after the ones in Rome. When I was last there (1973) they had mummified remains behind glass fronts. Grusome, fascinating at the same time!

137

BG On Monday, June 10 at 10:13 am

Hi,

The Dupont Circle area is a good, central place to stay. Alternatively, the Willard Hotel is something of a DC institution, and located right on 14th Street. DC hotels book up, so you could also try Arlington or Alexandria, VA. In Maryland, Bethesda area (all on metro lines for the most part.)

For touring – The Smithsonian, the Capitol, Air and Space Museum, Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington Memorials.

If the Nationals are in town, catching a baseball game might be fun.

No go on the tour company; the metro is easy to navigate! Taxis are expensive and traffic slow, so the metro is the best option, I think.

Restaurants (so many!) – for good pizza, Two Amys and Matchbox (in Chinatown). Founding Farmers (have not been there, but heard it is great.) Central (bistro-ish food, good burgers and fries, salads), Old Ebbitt Grill is an institution. Have also heard good things about Blue Duck Tavern.

If you get a wild hair and want to drive up the road less than an hour, the Baltimore Inner Harbor is fun. Touristy, but fun, and you could see if the Orioles are in town. Nice Little Italy for meals, and Maryland blue crabs are the best!

The humidity in summer is heinous, but you’ll be inside a lot.

Have a good time!

138

Jana On Monday, June 10 at 10:14 am

A zoo’s a zoo, so I don’t understand why so many people mention it, when there are unique things in DC.

Holocaust museum

Mt. Vernon. Interesting agriculture-wise for MM.

139

Chelsea On Monday, June 10 at 10:15 am

Might I suggest the FDR memorial.

I’ve been to D.C. twice. The first was with a school trip and my favorite spot was the FDR memorial. It was serene and beautiful. I went with my family the second time and we didn’t make it there or the Korean War memorial (my second favorite spot) and I really wish we had. Those probably won’t be anyone else’s top picks, but those are mine.

Also, the Korean War memorial is right by the Vietnam War memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, so it’s not hard at all to get to!

Also definitely plan a day trip to Gettysburg. That’s a must, along with those two.

Oh and the kids will love the Air and Space Museum. And do the Holocaust museum. There’s an area appropriate for kids, which is good, but I also think your girls could handle the main museum as well.

Tonya On Wednesday, June 12 at 2:38 pm

FDR Memorial is also my favorite!

140

Mary McDaniel On Monday, June 10 at 10:17 am

Smithsonian Natural History Museum is fun for all ages, as is Air and Space. If you are able to do it, the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport is amazing and has an Imax theater showing great stuff. You can see an actual space shuttle there!
The National Archives and Library of Congress are also a must-sees that many forget about.
If you like baseball, Nationals Field is very accessible by Metro, and lots of fun.
There are also surprisingly good art museums in DC.
And don’t forget all the Civil War history within a 60-mile radius of the city.
Have fun!

141

KimberlyOKC On Monday, June 10 at 10:18 am

My family went when I was maybe 14ish? So I will tell you what made an impression on me that I still remember almost 40 years later. I remember the Lincoln and Washington monuments. We went to a mint and that was fascinating to see the money being made. The Smithsonian is too massive to go to all 7 so we choose about 3 of them, space, rocks and I don’t remember the other one so…but if I were you, I would choose according to the interest your children have shown in school…unless you have like a month to go through them all. And by a month, I mean maybe a day for each one…but a whole day in a museum everyday for 7 days is probably too much for active outdoorsy kids!

Definitely hit some of the Smithsonian buildings. I love American History, Natural History, and Air and Space. Really liked the Holocaust museum too. You might want to check out the Spy museum. I have not been, but it looked really fun and interesting. We took an evening tour which we enjoyed and were able to see things such as several monuments (Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR) and Arlington cemetary, which would have been difficult to accomplish on our own in a short time. We also took a Duck boat tour that was fun. We also enjoyed visiting the Library of Congress. We stayed in Crystal City and found that was convenient because the subway was close. As far a how much time, I think 5 days would be a good amount of time to really see a lot of the sites and not feel too rushed.

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carrieH On Monday, June 10 at 10:19 am

We went last year with our 16, 13 & 10 year olds. We all agreed it was the very best vacation ever. My advice? Contact the White House and your Congressman NOW for tickets/tour info. You will need a few weeks/months for your security clearance and it is so very worth it. We had a personal tour by our Congressman’s interns–so fun and so nice to not have to stand in line. That being said, we tried to plan one or two big things each day and then fill in with the smaller things. And, plan on a LOT of walking. As much as you think you will walk, it will be more, but so worth it. We stayed in Pentagon City at the Marriott Residence Inn–lots of room for all of us (and a pool) and right near the Metro link so we didn’t need a car. Plan, plan, plan and then enjoy. My kids can’t pick a favorite thing, because they tell me they loved it all!

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Adriana L On Monday, June 10 at 10:20 am

Not sure if anyone has suggested it yet but I would totally recommend tripadvisor.com! It’s a great resource, I use it on all of my trips in the U.S. They have recommendations for things to do, places to eat, places to stay with reviews from people who have been there and, in general, there are some great tips from the natives of that area.

Ree, As a Washingtonian for 20+ years, I think you would need 5 days to see the monuments, Smithsonian museums, Holocaust museum, Spy museum, National Zoo, Mount Vernon, etc. I believe the Washington Monument is still being repaired (earthquake damage), but, you can see a lovely view from Old Post Office Pavilion tower on Pennsylvania Ave, NW. Also, a lovely hotel is the W Hotel on 15th street — historic place (used to be Hotel Washington) and the view from the top floor restaurant and bar is fantastic, too. Another hotel option (if you are splurging) is the Willard – also very historic and grand. It will be HOT in summer and I recommend the Tourmobile – you hop on and off at different stops all over DC and Arlington Cemetery. Mount Vernon is a must see, too and there are boat rides you can take down the Potomac River that bring you there and back. If you don’t mind the heat, a lot of folks like the Segway tours. I’m too klutzy to say I’ve done it first-hand but do see tourists of all ages and sizes zipping down the street on them! Paddle-boating near the Jefferson Memorial is also fun, but, I’d go early b/c of the heat and humidity. If you don’t stay in DC, Old Town Alexandria is nice – wonderful restaurants and you can easily drive (or take a water taxi) to National Harbor, MD. I think the kids would love the statue called The Awakening, which is this gigantic man sort of coming out of the ground (and the kids can climb all over it). Another cool area to visit in Alexandria is called Del Ray – good restaurants (Evening Star Cafe is a favorite) and The Dairy Godmother, which was on Food Network (or HGTV) a few years back. They have frozen custard and the President has taken his kids there (and the chair he sat in is decorated and can be sat in by all, which is kind of fun). I could go on forever…Please email me if you have more questions. I hope you all have a wonderful trip!

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Kari Beth On Monday, June 10 at 10:21 am

Go to the Mall and see the monuments during the day, then return for a night tour. They are really something in the dark, the way the marble glows is just stunning. Make sure to walk and even sit and enjoy a sidewalk view for a bit. It’s pretty amazing what and who you can see just walking around!

The national portrait gallery is beautiful. If you have time to stand in front of the White House for a bit, wait and watch the snipers switch places on the roof.

The metro is so easy to navigate – much smaller and less complicated than NYC. Try to get a tour at the Pentagon, there is a memorial at the exact spot that the plane crashed into the building, it is so moving.

We are visiting this summer, and I just booked us for the Smithsonian Sleepover. We are spending the night in the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. How cool is that? I bet your kids would agree. http://smithsoniansleepovers.org
You can sleep at the National Zoo, too! Check it out!
D

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Cheryl Hintze On Monday, June 10 at 10:26 am

Take the trolley tour. I goes around DC and you can get on and off at many, many sites. You get off the trolley at one stop, when you are done at that site, you just go the trolley stop, get on the next trolley and on to your next venue. You can literally do this all day long. You can see just about everything you want to see by letting the trolley take you there. No tour arranging, it is already done and very easy. We got on the trolley at Union Station (the train station) which is right by the Capital. It is definitely the way to see most of DC. It even goes out to the National Cathedral which is an absolute must. My husband and I did the trolley tour a few years ago. You will be relaxed and letting someone else do the driving on your schedule. Check it out. It is easy and fun.

149

Teresa in NC On Monday, June 10 at 10:26 am

Ree, when planning a trip for my daughter and I to New York City to celebrate her 21st birthday, I followed GREAT advice from a friend and used a travel agent who only “does” NYC. He made it sooo easy for us, and the whole trip fell well within my budget guidelines. We got great tickets to wonderful shows; got a fabulous, affordable hotel right in Times Square; got great advice and ideas on things to see and do. Couldn’t recommend using a travel agent more highly!

150

Lisa On Monday, June 10 at 10:27 am

Maybe it has been said….hop on hop off trolley/bus. There is no parking in dc. Drivers do a good job of detailing the route and dealing with traffic. Stops everywhere you want to get off. Good bang for your buck. I have used this type of transport in a few cities, recently for Paris, France. Provided a wonderful overview.

National cathedral is well worth it. Beautiful. Have fun!

151

Pamela On Monday, June 10 at 10:27 am

Ree – Washington DC is one of our favorite places to go. We’ve been there a few times and still haven’t seen everything. I think a week is a good amount of time. Best advice I can give you is DON’T RENT A CAR! The metro system is fabulous and you will love it. One tour I recommend is the Washington DC Trolley tour at night. It’s a great overview of the city and afforts a great look at the monuments in the evening. You will absolutely love it. Take the kids to AMERICA restaurant at Union Station. The kids will love it and there is agreat view of the Capitol building. Have fun – great choice!

152

Lizzie B On Monday, June 10 at 10:28 am

We went to DC in March this year to visit our daughter. As she had to work during the weekdays, we were on our own. We are from northern Minnesota, and although I’ve lived in Minneapolis, my husband has never strayed far from the old homestead to live, and can’t stand cities! He did have a good time in DC though, and I think it’s because we made our own choices.

We chose a Trolley Tour and purchased two-day passes. It’s one of the bus tours that allows you to get on and off at your own choosing. The first morning, we rode the tour that took you past (with stops) most of the memorials – we didn’t get off on that first round, but learned the lay of the land, along with the super handy map you get from the tour bus company. All of the drivers that we had were very knowledgeable about the city’s attactions, and offered a great and sometimes humorous running commentary. After that, we used the trolley bus as kind of a cab – and learned the same things over and over, but it was a good way to let it all absorb.

We also visited the National Cathedral (Episcopalean) – a stop on the trolley tour, and on a separate trek, I took a cab to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) – near the Catholic University of America. BEAUTIFUL mosaics litterally everywhere – the entire building is a work of art.

My husband also very much enjoyed Mount Vernon – the first and only mansion or estate that we ever wished we had seen back in the day. Very impressive, General Washington!

DC is a city full of symbolism – that in itself is an attraction of it’s own. Have fun and enjoy your trip!

Lizzie B On Monday, June 10 at 10:29 am

Gosh! I didn’t mean to write so much – I wanted to be short and sweet and helpful instead of droning on and on!!!

153

Mary Brockmeyer On Monday, June 10 at 10:29 am

We just got back. Best thing we did, and we are still talking about? The Bike Tour of the monuments at night. Great for kids and adults, and very interesting tour guides.

Well, we’ve near DC but not in it so I can really relate to this question. After many trips down and many different seasons I have to tell you some bad news. You can’t see/do it all. The best way to have fun is to pick what interests you and plan around it. For instance, a bit out of the way, is the Lincoln exhibit at the Fords theater. I loved it and planned to see it even though it’s a bit out of the way. Hubby always wants to do the air and space museum and I have been through countless Smithsonian galleries to see the many various exhibits from trains to amazing art! I will tell you to bring a camera with a fast lens and a spare battery at all times. Also ring me up and I’ll come hang! Or come up to stay with us we are between Balto and Philly and you can take a side trip to all the wonderful things there too LOL Have fun!~Suz

155

Sandy T On Monday, June 10 at 10:29 am

I grew up in the DC area and went to high school there, so this is more of a heads up. Don’t go in August. It’s WAY to hot and humid then. Yes even for people that are used to it. Try the fall. Less people and such better weather. Most everything is mentioned above…but I must say, give UTZ potato chips a try while there. So tasty and local to the region. (And missed by those that left the region). Also be sure to grab some local corn from the Delmarva…you’ll never taste better corn.
If you can do it…go for the Fourth (July 4th). It’s an experience everyone should have at least once.

156

Allison Ford On Monday, June 10 at 10:32 am

– More affordable rates are often in Virginia (Crystal City/Pentagon City) and easy to take the metro into DC for touring and what not. If you find a rate in DC then anything in the Downtown/Metro Center/Farragut area works well. They are all near the National Mall and restaurants/cafes/etc. I recommend hotels.com or sniqueaway.com is having a really great sale on DC hotels right now!

– A rule of thumb for tourists – stand to the right on the metro escalators and let the commuters walk on the left. A lot of people use the metro to commute to/from work in DC, so they can be in a rush and very pushy. Better to just get out of their way!

– Top 10 MUST see in DC (in my opinion):
1. The National Mall (it will take an entire day to do the whole thing, so get a map and plan a walk starting at the Lincoln Memorial down to the National Monument and hit all the monuments in between; FYI – the National Monument is currently under construction because of the damage it suffered from an earthquake two years ago)
2. The Tidal Basin Loop (I include Thomas Jefferson, FDR and MLK on this route)
3. Changing of the Guards, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery (incredibly moving, patriotic tribute that ALL AGES will appreciate)
4. Holocaust Museum is obviously a very emotional experience, but its considered one of the best museums in the world based on its design, probably too much for the younger ones, but I would recommend to the mature ones
5. Newseum (unfortunately it is NOT one of the Smithsonians and therefore an expensive ticket;$22 I think. However, it is AMAZING and totally worth it for the older ones)
6. Smithsonian Museums (Do yourself a favor and only pick 1 or 2, OR do your research and pick only a few exhibits in each of them. You won’t be able to go to ALL of them, they are just too massive. Natural History, American History, American Indian and National Art are my favorites!)
7. Ford’s Theatre (buy a tour for this one!)
8. The Old Post Office Building tower (this is the best view in DC and its free and its BETTER than the National Monument. Also, Donald Trump bought the building recently and is turning it into a hotel – so catch the view before it costs money!)
9. Mount Vernon (100% worth renting a car or finding a shuttle/tour to take you out there. It is beautiful and rich in history. George Washington was a pretty awesome guy! And Martha was too!)
10. Put the oldest on babysitting duty and make your Marlboro Man take you for a fancy (and yes, way too expensive) cocktail on the rooftop lounge of the W hotel. Its a really beautiful view and fun, romantic, swanky atmosphere.
Tier 2:
1. Capitol Building
2. National Archives
3. The National Zoo
4. I forgot about the White House (it shouldn’t count only because you can walk by it so quickly on your way to almost everything)
5. Spy Museum
6. Must eat at Ben’s Chili Bowl
7. I could go on and on and on
Have fun!!!!!!!

157

J Dub On Monday, June 10 at 10:33 am

I’m a local here and would HIGHLY recommend you not come during the summer. It’s miserably hot, humid and crowded with tourists. Better to come in the fall when it’s less crowded and the weather is a little better. That said, do not miss the Air & Space Museums (though one is not downtown) or the American History Museum. Also, a lot of people don’t go to The Archives but come on, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are housed there. Who doesn’t want to see those???The Washington Monument is not open and is honestly not worth the trip up anyways. If you want a great view of the city, grab drinks and a snack at the W Hotel’s rooftop bar. Better view and you get a snack! Speaking of eating, also not to be missed is Ben’s Chili Bowl, a great local place to grab a chili cheese hot dog. I hate giving away the good stuff but since the president ate there already as did Bill Cosby, so the jig is up. If you want to see a lot in a short amount of time, take either a Segway tour or one of the trolley tours, both are great. The big difference is that the trolley tours go to more locations and allow you to hop off and hop back on all day long. I would give yourself a week to see the place and do a mix of organised tours and seeing things on your own. If you can swing it, a trip down to see Mount Vernon (George Washington’s house) is definitely worth the effort. Staying downtown DC isn’t cheap but there are lots of hotel tells centrally located. Alternatively you could look into a row house rental for the week or stay in Rosslyn which is just across the bridge from Georgetown and close to metro as well as Arlington Cemetery.

158

John S On Monday, June 10 at 10:34 am

My wife and I started our honeymoon in DC (part of a 2 week road trip) and loved it!
Definitely see the Declaration of Independence. Also, spend the day walking through the war memorials (we have some great pictures of the WWI memorial because we were the only ones there ) The Korean War memorial is haunting. The Vietnam wall shouldn’t be missed either.

We only spent 2 days there walking but with the family I’d suggest at least 3 to take it all in. We stayed in nearby Arlington, Virginia and took the train to see the sights. I highly recommend the metro rail! It was clean, fast, and very convenient. We found a hotel within walking distance to a station and worked out the best paths to see everything we wanted. BTW, the tour at the Arlington cemetery is very worthwhile.
And be sure to go out of your way to see the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue).

Don’t use a company…contact your representatives offices (both House and Senate). You can do that online. Give them your dates of travel and they will set you up with tours of the Capitol and White House. Almost all House/Senate Reps have departments (personnel) to specifically handle tour accommodations for their constituents.

For kids, Air & Space museum is a must. National Archives is neat but can be a long wait. Natural History is great too! . American History has some neat exhibits but still a lot of construction. Almost every Smithsonian has a cafeteria with food specific to that museum…I hear the Native American Museum has the best cafeteria.

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Kayla R On Monday, June 10 at 10:34 am

Everyone’s suggestions so far have been great! One that I don’t think has been mentioned yet is Gravelly Point Park. This was one of my favorite off-the-beaten path spots when I lived in DC. It’s a small park at the end of the Reagan airport runway where you can sit and watch the planes take off and land. It doesn’t sound all that exciting, but they take off right above your head and it’s quite an adrenaline rush!

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GloGlo On Monday, June 10 at 10:36 am

Wow! So exciting.. would love to help but I went to DC when I was a senior in high school some (Yikes!) 20 years ago so I wouldn’t be much help but I do remember seeing the Congress building and the Lincoln memorial and the other monuments. As well as Arlington and the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. You will hear the taps of the soldier’s shoes on every turn for the rest of the day. I will definitely take some notes from all the other comments and use them for our next family vacation — maybe next year! Have fun and NO TOURS unless they are private ones! Maybe check to see if you can get a driver for the day, soooo much better. Can’t wait to read the DC Vacation Adventures of the Drummond family after this!!!

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Gigs On Monday, June 10 at 10:36 am

Hi Ree! I started reading some of the suggestions and realized I should just go ahead and give you mine. I live in DC, about a mile away from the Zoo, and I’ve guided a lot of families (friends and relatives) around the DC area! One of the BEST things about DC is that almost everything is free!

Things to see:
1. Smithsonian Museums: http://www.si.edu/ – all Smithsonian Museums are free
I *love* Air & Space, Natural History, and American History (which was recently renovated). The Air & Space Udvar-Hazy Center is truly awesome in that it has a Space Shuttle as well as the Enola Gay and a Concorde, among many other flying machines. BUT – it is not in DC proper, it is out by the Washington Dulles Airport, about 30 miles from downtown DC.

There are several really great art museums as well. One of my favorites is the Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum, which is also near Chinatown (or “Chinablock” as we call it) and several places to eat. The Metro stop is Gallery Place-Chinatown. It’s also really close to the National Archives and the Navy Memorial.

2. Smithsonian National Zoo http://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/
The Zoo recently finished renovations and creation of a new Elephant Trail, AND a new elephant (Bozie) from Baton Rouge. We have a lot of new babies this year, which are always fun, and it’s a great place to visit. I would recommend doing this in the morning, because it gets REALLY hot and humid in the afternoons. There is an official “Zoo” Metro stop, but I would recommend going to the Cleveland Park Metro stop, because the Zoo is downhill from there. (Also, Cleveland Park is a nice little neighborhood with places to eat and the best theater in town, the Uptown Theater. It’s an old art deco theater with just one screen and a balcony! Depending on when you visit, maybe the kids would like to spend a few hours in the A/C and watch the latest super hero movie… )

3. Monuments & Memorials – http://washington.org/topics/monuments-memorials
Classic: The Lincoln Memorial is a must, especially because of the view up the Mall toward the Capitol Building. The Washington Monument is actually closed for visitors right now because they are doing repairs from the earthquake we had a few years ago. But, if you stand on that hill, you can turn 360 degrees and see the Capitol, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.
Favorites: Of course, the Vietnam Memorial and the WW2 Memorial are really moving and very popular, but my recent favorite has been the Korean War Memorial. It’s absolutely stunning and very moving. And it you’re in DC during April, the Jefferson and the Tidal Basin are MUSTS because of the cherry blossoms. And I completely recommend getting to Arlington Cemetery and seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s a very solemn event but a very good history lesson.

5. Getting around:
You can really do most things by walking or taking the metro, but there are other options. There is a hop-on/hop-off trolley tour which is good because you can set your own pace and decide where you want to go. It’s not free, but when you consider that everything ELSE is…
There are also Segway and bike tours which are not-free-but-really fun to do!
I saw someone else earlier had suggested the Duck tours, too. I haven’t done that, but it looks like fun!

OH – depending on when you are coming, you might also want to take in a baseball game. Nationals Park is near the Navy Yard Metro station and there’s really not a bad seat in the house. They have a lot of family specials, and you just might catch a game against your “home” team! http://www.nationals.com

WHERE TO STAY:
It depends! Central location is around Metro Center or Gallery Place Metro stations. Foggy Bottom station or the Georgetown neighborhood (not a Metro station) are very accessible to the “downtown sights,” but a little farther out. My recommendation would be to stay near the Dupont Circle station, because it is fairly central and there are some really cool boutique hotels around there. There are PLENTY of restaurants in the area, and it’s just two stops away from the Zoo.

OK, was this too much information? I hope not! But.. if you want more info or any help with your planning, please feel free to contact me by email or twitter (@HKGigs).

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PenPen On Monday, June 10 at 10:37 am

Lot’s of great ideas. I’ve been to DC twice and you can’t see everything. Smithsonian is a must–Air & Space the guys will love. The aquarium is a great time too. All the monuments are great, but if you want some great effects, visit the Korean War and Lincoln Memorial at night if you are all together it is great. I’ve stayed at hotels downtown and there is a trolley that stops at different hotels. Buy a ticket and you can get on and off to visit different places all in one day ( I rode this 3 days in a row it was so handy). You can go to the FBI building, bureau of engraving, Holocaust Museum, etc. Arlington is a must — let me know and I’ll have you put flowers on a grave. Jessica gave her life in Iraq serving our country. We went to Mt Vernon the last time and a quick trip up to Gettysburg. That’s awesome–we listened to what happened as we slowly drove through the site. If you stay down near the Mall area, you are close to Union Station. Interesting place to shop. We caught a train to Baltimore and watched the Orioles play. Drop you off at the station and pick you up there. No matter what you do–it’s great fun and can be very hot and muggy!

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Elizabeth On Monday, June 10 at 10:39 am

Don’t miss the National Cathedral – it is fabulous and has a wonderful gift shop. Be sure to go up to the tower so you can see the views from there – you can see some of the wonderful gargoyles from that vantage point.

Make sure you go to Arlington Cemetery and see the changing of the guard (you can metro there – don’t take the expensive tour bus), as well as the Kennedy graves and many others. Also, go to the Iwo Jima Memorial – has a great view of DC – there is a wonderful night tour of the monuments and this one is included. http://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/night-tours.asp. It’s the only tour I’d take – you can do everything else on your own. The monuments are gorgeous at night and less packed. The Washington Monument is closed for renovations from the earthquake so you won’t be able to go inside. The Jefferson Memorial is my favorite.

The Smithsonian’s American History Museum is wonderful as is the Air and Space, but then all of the Smithsonian is terrific – you can see Julia Child’s kitchen! The Newseum is also fun, but it is about the only place that isn’t free!

Try to get a Capitol tour. Also, the Library of Congress is a beautiful building inside. Also, go to the Archives to see the Constitution, and Declaration of Independence, among other historic documents. Ford’s Theater has been recently renovated and is nice – and the house where Lincoln died is across the street.

I’d recommend at least ten days – more if you want to try to fit in Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.

Stay at the JW Marriott at Metro Center for a great centrally located hotel – or the Willard for a very historic more upscale hotel.

Eat at Old Ebbitt Grill (reservations suggested) or their new sister restaurant, Hamilton. Wolfgang Puck has a nice place to eat at the Newseum. Austin Grill has good TexMex food and I’d also recommend Founding Farmers for Sunday brunch or any meal, really – just make reservations way ahead of time as it gets crowded…but it is delicious!!!

Have a great time – it is a wonderful city!!

Since I work in DC (but I’m originally from Oklahoma), I’d love to join you for lunch one day while you’re here!!!

I’d come in September or October when the weather is cooler and it is less crowded.

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Corrie On Monday, June 10 at 10:39 am

I have lived here for two years. You have received a lot of wonderful suggestions before mine, and I concur with all of them. Here are a few of my tips:

1. April or October/November, otherwise everyone will be miserable, especially MM if he never wears shorts.
2. Don’t forget the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. This is open to everyone and very moving. They also give guided tours of the Pentagon–check out their web site to find out how. My husband works in the Pentagon and I never tire of seeing the inside.
3. Use the metro as much as possible.
4. If you have any history buffs, don’t forget about Gettysburg. You could rent a car for the day, drive up there, and take the audio tour.
5. If I had to chose between monuments during the day and monuments at night, I would see them at night. They are all lit and some are better at night. Washington Memorial has scaffolding up to the top right now and is under repair until the end of the year, so you can’t go inside of it.
6. Allow 4-5 hours for Mt. Vernon.
7. Check out Trip Advisor to make sure you have investigated everything before you start your trip.

Have fun!

166

Neena On Monday, June 10 at 10:40 am

1. Do a night tour of the monuments – they’re gorgeous at night (and the weather is usually much more pleasant!)

Aside from the Smithsonian Museums and the Zoo, check out the Holocaust Museum and the Newseum. Don’t waste your money on the Spy Museum.

Just a note: White House tours were stopped due to sequestration and the Washington Monument is being repaired (damaged in the earthquake a couple years ago), so you can see both from outside, but can’t enter.

Contact your congresspeople to get a Capitol DOME tour – much more exciting than the plain ol’ Capitol tour.

I echo the urge not to visit in the summer. It’s HOT and riddled with tourists Come early fall!

2. What are the more “Tier 2″ things to do in Washington, D.C.—things that are added bonuses?

There are a million restaurants to try out. You could eat your way through DC…

Check out Old Town Alexandria – great food, art, things to see there!

3. In order to do it right, how many days in Washington, D.C. are necessary?
4 is a happy medium between too short/rushed and too much time!

4. Is it best to plot your own course and see things according to your own schedule? Or is it better to—gulp—use some kind of tour company? I should tell you I don’t like appointments or the feeling of being trapped. Ha.

Do your own thing. Maybe take a ride on one of the sightseeing tour buses or Duck Tours — OR, depending on what time of year you’re coming, do a self-guided biking tour (Capitol Bike Share is a great way to DIY a bike tour) or walking tour.

5. Where is the best/most centrally located area to stay in Washington, D.C.?

Hotel downtown near a Metro stop is your best bet – Washington Court Hotel is near Union Station. Sofitel and the W on 15th are nice and Metro-accessible. Hotel Monaco (Kimpton) is near Chinatown/Gallery Place, so you have lots of food options in the vicinity.

(P.S. I’m a DC resident who loves to eat/cook with a kid…so feel free to email me for restaurant/other recommendations!)

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suzanne On Monday, June 10 at 10:40 am

Took my 8 year old granddaughter when her dad was living there just a couple of blocks from the White House in late October. Jackets during the mornings and tied around the waste in the afternoons. We rode the metro or walked everywhere no driving no place to park. Went to the everything we could do in 4 days and still want to go back and do it again. You will love it. Plan it your self it is always better.

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Holly H. On Monday, June 10 at 10:41 am

I’m from Oklahoma and went on a D.C. trip when I was 16. From an Okie’s point of view, the holocaust museum just didn’t hit my heart strings, and I think that was mostly because I kept finding myself comparing it to the OKC Bombing Memorial museum. Just didn’t hit home as hard as the museum in OKC.

Things I loved the most were Arlington Cemetery (of course!) and then we saw the Jefferson Monument at dark, which seemed to make it way better than it could have been in daylight because of the lights and reflections on the water there. SO COOL!! Also, thought the Vietnam wall memorial and Korean War memorial statues were really neat to see. Something different.

We didn’t get to go to the Smithsonians because the lines to get in were too long. Keep that in mind when deciding which day to visit those!!

169

Beth G On Monday, June 10 at 10:47 am

In most every city I visit, the first hing I do is a Grey-Line bus tour. It gives you an overall idea of the city and it allows me to mark down things to go do/see that I might not otherwise have done.

I took the Grey-Line National Monuments at Dusk tour. Going to visit the Korean War Memorial after sunset is completely different from seeing it in the day. The way it is planned, and designed, at night with th elighting you see yourself meld with the art of the fallen and it just brings you that little bit closer to remembering why they did what they did.

Have fun.

170

Carrie SL On Monday, June 10 at 10:47 am

The spy museum is one of the best places to see. I’ve lived in Maryland my entire life and visted the Museum of Natural History often – and it’s good but I found the Spy Museum was so interesting. Just walking around the Mall , seeing the Captiol and White House and the Vietnam Memorial is inspiring.

On a side note (and perhaps a second trip back east since it would be difficult to do DC and beyond) – I live in Frederick, MD and this is a wonderful place to visit. It is close to Gettysburg and Antitum AND we have some lovely restaurants …… The writer of our National Anthem lived here and, of course, George Washington slept in and around the area…

Enjoy your trip!

171

Judy On Monday, June 10 at 10:47 am

We have gone several times and would highly recommend staying close to the action. Driving is horrible! We liked, the Air and Space, American History and Natural History museums, and I wouldn’t miss the Holocaust museum. Also a day to walk around and see the sights is nice too. 5 or 6 days would be good.

172

Lindsay B On Monday, June 10 at 10:48 am

I love DC, and have the BEST memories of our last family vacation there! You definitely don’t need a tour company, you can see allt the monuments on your own. Several are within walking distance of each other – Jefferson and FDR are a bit out of hte way, but the absolute best part of vacationing in DC is their Metro system. So easy to use and I was beyond impressed with how clean it was! We stayed close to the Dupont Circle station. All of the Smithsonian museums are awesome, and definitely take them to the Holocaust museum. It’s an important part of history.

173

Yertle On Monday, June 10 at 10:48 am

Wonderful trip! You must take the family to the Korean War Memorial; leave before the sun comes up so that you may sit and watch the effects of the sun on this wonderful memorial, you will have chills and be in awe. All the memorials are worth the walk, but you must sit on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and look out across the National Mall, across the basin, and just take a moment to reflect. I absolutely love to give my family and guests the tour at night time because the lighting makes everything so beautiful at that time, it is not as packed with people, and much cooler option for touring in the summer time. I would start around 8:30 p.m. so you can arrive there right around dusk; however, you should check to be sure that they are still open around these times – they used to be. Definitely go to the National Archives to see The Constitution; the National Gallery of Art is near the Spy Museum, and of course the many aspects of the Smithsonian are all great things to look forward to. I also love the National Cathedral and the National Arboretum, and the gardens with the fountain across from the National Archives are a great place to have a picnic lunch. Oh, so much you can do in D.C. that I would definitely plan at least five days if you can, and you should plan a day when you get home to rest! If you have time you should stop by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and go to Mount Vernon.

174

Leslie On Monday, June 10 at 10:49 am

I can’t possibly give you a Tier I and Tier II – I love DC that much…..I love everything I have ever done/seen there:
1 – Changing of the Guard at Arlington – the most moving experience in DC (the tour of Arlington is very informative as well)
2 – Contact your local State Represenative or Senator about your visit – most have staffers who can you tour tickets to the Capital, White House, Washington Monument fairly easily – while the tours are free, you have to have a ticket and they go quickly – those were the only places we went that required tickets even though they were free – I’m sure there are others
3 – The monuments – all of them – here is where I suggest a tour – you get to all of them and you can always go back to individual sites if you feel you didn’t get enough time – my favorites are Korean War (eerily realistic) and FDR (“walks” you through his presidency)
4 – Smithsonian – Air & Space Museum (and don’t forget the 2nd site at Dulles Airport – the Enola Gay is there as well as one of the space shuttles); Natural History (dinosaurs and the Hope Diamond), American History (I could live in this place – Dorothy’s red shoes, Archie and Edith’s chairs, White House china – they also have “real” history, too!)
5 – National Cathedral – my boys loved the architecture and the catacombs – one of the stained glass windows has a moon rock embedded
6 – Spy Museum – very interactive – my boys loved it (this one is not free but admission is not very expensive)
7 – Street vendors – nothing better than a hot dog and a soft pretzel while walking the Mall
8 – Old Ebbitt Grill – oldest bar in DC – gorgeous – great food – we eat there everytime we go to DC
9 – Georgetown – walk, shop, eat, walk, shop, eat – repeat as necessary
10 – Go see something live at the Kennedy Center – it doesn’t matter what it is…just go

Because it’s your first trip to DC in a while and because it’s the first trip for your kids, you might actually want to look into one of the bus tours very early on in your visit – you’ll get a really good overview of things to do, some really interesting facts, and you don’t have to navigate in DC traffic (ugh!). It helps to give you the lay of the land (and I found it restful after traveling). Many of the tours offer “on/off” tours – they stop at various sites during the day – you can get off the bus at one site and spend as much time as you like, then get on another bus to take you somewhere else.

Spend AT LEAST a week in DC – but, no matter how long you stay, you will never see it all – whether you go on a tour or ride the Metro, there is a LOT of walking involved…and it can be very hot and humid in the summer – you’ll need to rest and rehydrate often.

We have stayed in DC (about two blocks from the Capitol) and we have stayed in various cities surrounding (like Alexandria) – both have pros and cons….I prefer to stay outside DC and ride the Metro into the heart of things – unless you want the experience of staying in an older, historic hotel or “in the thick of things,” the outlying cities have less expensive, more modern, “newer” hotels. We really enjoyed Alexandria with it’s beautiful historic section – the Metro stop was about a block from our hotel PLUS we took a water taxi over to Georgetown one day – great fun and not something you can do just anywhere.

I hope you enjoy your trip….a trip to DC always makes me proud to be an American.

175

Maree On Monday, June 10 at 10:49 am

There are so many “must sees” in DC, but please don’t skip Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Vietnam Memorial Wall ~ very moving experiences there. Also, contact your congressman’s office for a “behind the scenes” tour of the Capitol building. Enjoy planning your trip! ☺

176

Linda P On Monday, June 10 at 10:52 am

Get your walking shoes on and be in shape. I recommend getting double decker bus passes, you can get the guided tour AND use it for transportation around the city and attractions. I also suggest planning contacting your elected officials well in advance to get you passes to the White House and Capital buildings. Since y’all homeschool I would suggest going in the off season, maybe in the Fall when the weather is still good and the crowds have gone home.

Jenny On Monday, June 10 at 10:52 am

Emily H. On Monday, June 10 at 10:53 am

I went about 6 years ago. I loved it but I really regret how scheduled everything was. I didn’t get a chance to just look at the magnificent buildings and soak it all in. I suggest that you just take some time while you’re there and take it all in! Oh, and spy museum was not worth it.

There is just so much to see and do … two of our favorite things were visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Sterling, VA (next to the Dulles airport) and an evening tour of D.C. on a trolley car (caught it at the train station), we could get off and visit several sites (including the Lincoln Memorial) … this was just so much easier than finding parking, etc.

180

Staci C On Monday, June 10 at 10:54 am

Don’t use a tour company!! We just went a few months ago and I would have hated that. You’ll want your freedom.
Like everyone has already said, USE THE METRO. Don’t drive. Plus your kids will think it’s awesome.
Pick a few museums that are musts (I would suggest American History–you can’t miss the ruby slippers, right?) and then let your whims carry you. We loved the White House and walking around the awesome Georgetown neighborhoods.
It’s a lot of walking so be prepared.

181

Betty On Monday, June 10 at 10:56 am

Try the American Indian Museum, next to the Air and Space Museum, and all of the war memorials, there is a new one for WWII, The VietNam Wall is powerful. The last time I visited we were told not to use the city buses, for safety reasons. Have a great time, it’s a wonderful place to visit.
B

Accept in advance that you won’t see everything you want to see unless you’re staying at least 2 weeks. I could EASILY spend a day at each museum & there are about 849 of them.

The Tulsa library has guidebooks to various museums which I looked at ahead of time to determine some must-sees (like the Napoleon diamond necklace & a dead giant squid & Fonzie’s jacket, important stuff like that).

I would stay somewhere with easy Metro access. Don’t go in July (way too hot & humid) unless you’re going for the concert & fireworks on the Fourth. Don’t make plans to meet up with someone right outside the National History museum an hour after the Cherry Blossom parade you didn’t know was taking place and two hours after your phone dies (that would be really dumb, don’t ask me how I know this is a bad idea).

MUST see: Natural History, National History, Air & Space (I would do both but at least the one at the Mall), Spy Museum, Constitution & Declaration at the Archives, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln/Washington/Jefferson/Vietnam & WW2 memorials on the Mall.

SHOULD see: Mount Vernon, Library of Congress, driving tour of all the major buildings & maybe a night driving or walking tour of the mall & memorials, Capitol tour (preferred this to WH, actually, mostly because of the art in the rotunda & statuary hall & getting to stand outside on the rooftop waiting for the Congressional tour), up in Washington Monument but I think that’s currently closed, the Mint, Ford Theater & the museum across the street where Lincoln actually died.

I dream of taking my kids there too.

Kim H in VA On Monday, June 10 at 8:41 pm

If you go on the fourth of July you can see the concert the same thing the night before at the dress rehearsal. It’s supposed to be all of the show but a tenth of the people.

183

Sarah Sherlock On Monday, June 10 at 10:56 am

1. I’ve lived there my whole life and I can tell you that for the most part, it mostly depends on what you enjoy. However, I will say that I’ve never been to any place in DC that I hated.
• Holocaust Museum. This is a must, I went as a child and as an adult and it had a profound impact on how I led my life.
• Air and Space Museum is always a HUGE hit with the boys and it’s interesting enough even for people aren’t really into that kind of stuff.
• American Art Museum and the Freer Gallery of Art are my two favorite art museums in DC.
• Newseum is incredibly interesting and always a good time…especially with the kids!
• Natural History museum is very impressive as is the American History Museum.
2. Honestly…and this might just be me…but I’ve never been blown away by the White House. You’ll probably walk by it but I wouldn’t make a special trip for it. You can’t get close enough to actually enjoy it (without getting a special tour), and there are bars blocking your view so even your pictures aren’t that awesome.
If you have the time, visit Arlington Cemetery. It’s usually something people push to the side but it is very worth it. My father-in-law was the Historian at Arlington for 20 years and I went to visit him once. Just taking the time to see all of the people who gave their lives for you makes you incredibly grateful for everything you have and is very humbling.
3. I’d say 4-5. You could probably see at least 3 museums in a day, no problem, but I’m sure you’d want to do other things that aren’t museums. The museums are all within a 15 min walk from each other at their furthest so it’s easy to clump them together.
4. Plan it yourself! There’s no reason to use a tour guide. The only time I’d want one is while at Arlington or at Mt. Vernon if that’s something on your list. Whatever you do, check the calendar on the Smithsonian website before you go! They often have festivals or special events that take place at the National Mall (the big space of grass at the center of the Smithsonian!).
5. If you’re there for educational purposes, staying as close to the Smithsonian would be the easiest, but most hotels have shuttles that will take you to the Smithsonian.

**Don’t forget to check out some of the great food that’s there!

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Laura On Monday, June 10 at 10:57 am

Since you have lots of advice about museums and monuments, I’ll recommend some other things: walk around Georgetown–charming neighborhood, cute shops. Eat at one of the many Ethiopian restaurants (my favorite when I lived there back in the day was Meskerem in Adams Morgan, but there are tons to choose from). Have a chili dog or chili cheese fries at Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street.

have fun!

185

Linda B On Monday, June 10 at 11:00 am

We live in Fairfax, VA, about 1/2 hour (or 3 hours, depending on traffic…) outside of DC.
1) If you do nothing else, visit the Lincoln Memorial at night.
2) Stop in the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. For real. Right there, in front of your own eyes.
3) Visit Arlington National Cemetery and pay your respects. Visit the Tomb of the Unknowns. It will give you and your children much to think and talk about.
4) Consider a day at Mount Vernon — tour George Washington’s home on the Potomac River (you can take a quick boat ride from the dock) and you might be especially interested in the farming methods and animals. Lots of opportunities to walk in pretty surroundings, a nice change from the city.
It will be hot and humid and crowded, so treat yourselves, stay at a nice hotel right in DC!

186

Rochelle G On Monday, June 10 at 11:00 am

We recently visited DC (hubby had a business trip and we tagged along) with our 8, 6 and 5 month old. We only had a few days but we fit in quite a lot, and the kids loved every minute. My 6- year old daughter’s favorite was the National Cathedral (they have a children’s chapel built to scale for the average 6- year old, a stained glass window containing an actual piece of moon rock, stained glass windows illustrating the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and a scavenger hunt for a Star Wars gargoyle/grotesque on the exterior of the cathedral). My 8-year old son and husband loved the Smithsonian Air and Space. We spent a whole day there! We stayed right downtown and the kids got a kick out of walking by the White a house to get to the Metro Stations. There was a 5 Guys Burger near our hotel where we got quick and delicious breakfast sandwiches (eggs, cheese, bacon, etc.) and a Starbucks too. Our favorite dinner place that we went to twice (kids even agreed to a 45-minute wait!!!) was Founding Farmers. They had the perfect menu with meat and potato offerings and also more “inventive” dishes…definitely something for everyone. You can’t go wrong! We also did a quick drive-by tour of some monuments, stopping to get out at the Lincoln Memorial. The family highlight was our visit to Mount Vernon. We spent a day there and it was lovely. Kids completed an optional scavenger hunt and claimed their prize. They loved the fact that it was outdoors on the Potomac, a nice break from the amazing but overwhelming Smithsomians. Have fun!!!

My husband and I spent a few days in DC last summer. It was hot and we were miserable after walking around all morning. We had seen the red bikeshare bikes everywhere and after talking with our waitress at lunch decided to try them out. I was totally against it at first. I’m a nervous biker and was NOT excited about biking around a big city (also I’m not in any kind of shape at all). It was wonderful. By far the best thing we did! It was so easy to get around, created a breeze, and we were able to cover more ground than if we were on foot. We biked over to the Jefferson and Roosevelt monuments and then along the waterfront area (past Watergate buildings) and had drinks along the harbor. We dropped off the bikes and walked up to Georgetown for dinner.

I went on a family trip to DC in 5th grade as well. We stayed a week and it was the perfect amount of time. I will suggest though as a kid, to balance things out more than my parents did. Going to museum all day everyday is boring. Try to mix it up by throwing in a bike ride along the harbor or something fun.

Also not to missed is a meal at Founding Farmers. So tasty.

188

Kelsee On Monday, June 10 at 11:01 am

The moonlight bus tour is amazing, and is perfect for the first night in DC. And you must, must, must eat at Zaytinya while you’re there. My husband and I still talk about the scrumptious experience, nearly a year later! Have fun!!

189

Lynn B On Monday, June 10 at 11:02 am

I can make several recommendations. First contact your congressman and ask for a tour of the White House and also of the Capitol. Also when you tour the Smithsonian, be sure and go to the Smithsonian Castle. they have a wonderful film about the museum and it was the original building. Another neat thing to do is have lunch at the Senate Dining Room. These are things most people miss and they left a lasting impression on my daughter when we visited. If you can work it in, be sure to visit Montecello and Ash Lawn. They are wonderful for families! Have fun.

190

Meredith On Monday, June 10 at 11:02 am

Hi Ree! I love that you decided to visit our nation’s capital with your family! I’ve lived in the DC area for about 12 years, and many of the suggestions you’ve already received are good ones. As you’ve probably figured out, there’s a lot of walking around. If you have about 5 days in DC, I think you could see a lot without being super-tired by the time you left. Tackle it in chunks. Monuments for a day (or two if you really love that sort of thing), museums for a day or two (depending on what interests you), and a day or two of those “other” things that you and your family like (a baseball game at Nationals Park, a visit to the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space museum outside the city, or just hanging out at the hotel pool. You’re on vacation, after all.)
With no disrespect to my Savior, the main “mall” area of DC with all the traditional must-see stops is laid out like a crucifix, with the head of Christ (Lincoln Memorial) on the western end and the feet of Christ at the Eastern end (the Capitol). The White House is at the left hand (north) and the Jefferson Memorial at the right hand (south). The Washington Monument is at the abdomen. I love Jesus, so I certainly hope that people don’t find this offensive, but it helps me keep track of where everything is in relation to everything else and allows me to better divide up my visits. The monuments are clustered toward the western side around the Hands and Head. The Smithsonian museums are essentially in a line going down the Leg area. This is a rough approximation. Arlington Cemetery is across the Potomac River in Northern Virginia, but is still very easily accessible via our subway system (Metro).
My opinion is that staying in “northwest” DC keeps you in the best location overall, though you can see there is no shortage of opinions on this matter. Good luck and can’t wait to hear about what you decide!

191

Lisa Amos On Monday, June 10 at 11:03 am

Our family just returned from a trip to DC. All the things I wished that I had known are listed below:

DO NOT rent a car. Use the metro. You can buy metro cards ahead of time and they are good for the Circulator, Metro buses and subway. It’s the best way to get around the city.

Big Bus Tours. You can buy a ticket anywhere you see Big Bus. You can hop on and off at leisure and get back on the next bus. They give lots of information and hit all of the best places but the best part is hopping on and off as you would like. We bought passes to all bus tours for 48 hours. That is plenty of time to catch everything. Make sure you’re not on any of the buses at rush hour. You will be sitting still a lot and roasting on top of the tour bus. Take the subway instead.

Arlington is top priority. Be sure to take the subway or the Big Bus there then purchase a vehicle tour. You will get much more information. The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was he most incredibly moving part of our trip but if you take the tour you will see and learn soooo much more.

Library of Congress is the most beautiful building that we saw on our trip and that’s saying something because there is so much beauty in DC.

U.S. Supreme Court is fascinating. Be sure and do the movie that is shown there. You will learn a lot.

Go to the U.S. Post Office then take the elevator to the top. Incredible view of DC from the top.

Do not bother with Union Station. I was horribly disappointed. I think I was expecting it to be extraordinary like Grand Central and it’s almost a disgrace. Not to mention that the traffic there is horrible and not managed well.

Go when it’s cooler so that you can enjoy the walking. We went in the middle of May and it was almost too hot on the top of the tour buses.

192

Amanda J On Monday, June 10 at 11:04 am

I live in a suburb of DC and work downtown Mon-Fri. The essentials you must do when you come downtown are:

1. Memorials: Washington Monument – it’s closed now for repairs and has scaffolding all around it, but is still a must, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, MLK, White House
2. Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima
3. National Zoo
4. Air and Space Museum
5. Museum of Modern Art
6. Spy Museum – super fun and different
7. Georgetown Waterfront – grab a table on the water and enjoy the scenery (or maybe do a little bit of shopping!)

There are tons of hotels throughout the city, but I would recommend staying at one near a metro stop. The metro is very easy to use, but you will also be doing quite a bit of walking. You could probably do DC in a long weekend (4-5 days). Good luck and hope you have a great trip!

193

KarraLynn On Monday, June 10 at 11:04 am

We live here, too. Here’s my two cents (well, more than two..)

– You can see a lot in just a couple of days. No matter the length of your stay, prepare to walk and walk and walk. No matter how much I warn people, they are still amazed at the amount of walking. All the monuments are spread out by a considerable distance.

Things you can skip:
– The zoo. It’s nothing special, and I feel it’s a waste of valuable time when you are from out of town.
– Please don’t go to Georgetown Cupcakes. You are going to stand in line for hours for a cupcake. They are no different than any of the other “fancy” cupcakes from all the other shops.
– The White House tour is not worth it, in my opinion. As someone mentioned, they aren’t doing them right now anyways. But it’s basically a five minute walk through a glorified museum. I guess it’s cool to say you were in the White House, but for all the trouble I wouldn’t bother.
– The Awakening statue is really great, but they have moved it out of the district and down to the National Harbor – which is far away, and there isn’t really anything else out there.

Things to see/do that other people haven’t mentioned (that I saw):
– The Ghost Clock!!! It is at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which I agree can be a total snooze for kids. BUT this is right across the street from the White House, and if you can stand to not Google it before you go, your whole family will be blown away when you see it. Seriously, you’re going to be right there anyways. Take five minutes and see the Ghost Clock.
– The echo chamber at the Canadian Embassy. This is right next to the Newseum, which is something I highly recommend. However, very few people even know this is an echo chamber. Have your kids start talking outside the circle, and continue as they move to the center. It’s awesome, and they will love it. So will you.
– Be sure to walk around the perimeter of the Lincoln Memorial (once you are up on the top level with Lincoln). There are great views from the all angles. Oh! And be sure to point out the typo to your kids in the speech engraved on the wall to Lincoln’s left (his second inaugural address). The engraver accidentally carved an “E” instead of an “F” in the word “FUTURE,” and you can still see where they fixed it. See if you can find it!
– No matter what you see, make sure you also see the monuments at night (especially the Korean War Monument, which is near Lincoln and the Vietnam Wall). Seeing DC at night is an entirely different experience.

Oh, and one more thing. The Doubletree in Crystal City has a rooftop restaurant that spins, and gives you an amazing view of DC. Okay, two more things. If you can, fly into Reagan airport. It’s basically downtown and you can see all the monuments as you land/take off.

Hope you make it this far down in the comments and that some of this helps you to have a “non-standard” trip. Have a wonderful time!

194

Jean On Monday, June 10 at 11:07 am

Please eat at Filomena restaurant in Georgetown. It is spectacular and delicious and they make their own pasta…omg…yummy!

Every monument in DC is worth visiting and luckily they are all pretty much grouped in one area. I will not go through them because I am sure that you know exactly where and what they are. I should, however, tell you that the Washington Monument is currently undergoing structural repairs and so it is closed and not as pretty to look at.

Another tip, If you are visiting the monuments, and mother nature calls…clean restrooms are located on the ground floor or the Jefferson Memorial (there’s also a cute souvenir shop). The children will love reading all the quotes that are engraved on the walls of all monuments. My favorites are Jefferson’s.

MLK Jr. Monument is our latest pride! It is a must! I also love WWII monument, but personally I think it is spectacular at night! An absolute must see!

Arlington Cemetery is another must see. The changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldiers is a must along with the JFK Eternal Flame. While in Virginia, take a break from all the culture and history and take the kids to Pentagon City (Fashion Center). The girls will enjoy the fun stores, the food court offers the usual fares. Irish pubs and sports pubs are located in what is called “Pentagon Row”. If you are looking for incredible shopping, which I doubt is the goal, Tyson Corner is what you want.

Enough with the shopping and back to culture and history:

In Virginia, you can also visit President Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon. A must! The views are absolutely beautiful!

I don’t know if you will be driving around the city or use our awesome metro system (provided that there are no delays, incidents or scheduled/unscheduled repairs…usually on weekends). The metro is super convenient as it has a stop right in the center of it all “Smithsonian Station” is where you want to stop for the majority of the monuments and for the museums (btw, all admissions are free!).

Now let’s talk about the museums, there are many museums to visit, but my absolute musts are

Natural History Museum (look for the Hope Diamond and the giant squid)
American History Museum (you might like seeing the First Ladies’ “inauguration ball” gowns)
Air and Space Museum (Your boys will go crazy!) Aslo, try to make some time to visit the Air and Space Museum Annex in Virginia. It is incredible….Guess what we have… The Discovery shuttle!!!!!!
The Holocaust Museum (sad, but important for children to learn about)

Realistically speaking, you will need at least 4 whole days to visit the monuments and museums (monuments are open and well lit at night so you can visit some of them in the evenings).
Museums close at 5:00 p.m. Ideally, you would mix both activities, so that you can refresh your batteries, wash and cool off inside the museums.

There are cruises that you can take at night to enjoy the monuments from the Potomac River. By the monuments, paddle boating might be an activity the children would enjoy.

The National Cathedral and the National Zoo are great stops and if you do go to that area, stop by 2 Amys for delicious wood burning pizza.

There are several neighborhoods to visit in DC. China town/ Penn Quarters/ Gallery Place is where you will find many fun restaurants.
Georgetown (M street) is home to shopping, bars and restaurants. Great water views etc…, maybe you can swing by The George Washington University and I can give your daughters a tour of our pharmacology department (No, I am not recruiting!)

In Virginia, King Street (the Old Town area of Alexandria) is rich in history and restaurants. Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant is great if you want the children to plunge in 1770 America. Marlboro Man might appreciate the Ales of the revolution (my husband loves Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce…Ben Franklin’s original recipe. They also have Jefferson’s Tavern Ale and Washington’s Tavern Porter).

Oh and since you’ll be in the neighborhood, you might want to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I hear there’s a nice huge white house! And don’t forget the Capitol.

Have fun!

196

N On Monday, June 10 at 11:07 am

I lived in DC for 2 years, and love the city! Must see things to do-visit all of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Zoo, the monuments at night, the Holocaust Museum, National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, the Newseum, Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You can tour a retired battleship at the Navy Yard. Visit Union Station, and the Old Post Office. Walk around Georgetown (M & Wisconsin) or take a boat cruise at night. The National Cathedral (Anglican) is beautiful, and the National Basilica (Catholic) is worth the trip to Brookland just to see the beautiful art glorifying the Lord.

Call your Congressman’s office and arrange a tour of the Capitol-they’ll actually have an intern or junior staffer show you around, and tell you about the history. Your congressman’s office can also attempt to arrange a White House tour for you.

The Sewell-Belmont House Museum is focused on women’s suffrage, and is a short walk from the Capitol.

Don’t be afraid to leave the National Mall area. I loved DuPont Circle (lots of great restaurants and people watching), Eastern Market (farmers/artists market), and Old Town Alexandria. Annapolis is a charming historic town that is about 45 minutes from DC (in good traffic).

Use the metro, but purchase SmartTrip cards for each member of your family. They are $5, but you’ll easily make that up by avoiding the $1 surcharge per person per ride that Metro charges to paper farecard holders. I would recommend staying either in DC itself or in northern Virginia-just make sure you’re close to the metro because parking in DC can be difficult to find, and very expensive. There are reasonable hotels in DC-the Kimpton chain is great, and they have several centrally-located, fun hotels in cute neighborhoods.

Lastly, I would plan on spending 5-7 days in the city. You can certainly spend less time, but there is so much to do and see that you’ll end up wishing you had spent more time. I would also recommend going in the fall if you can, rather than the spring/summer. A lot of school groups come in March-June, making the museums very crowded, and DC is very hot and humid in July-August.

197

S On Monday, June 10 at 11:10 am

We went last year and for Pete’s sake don’t try to find a parking spot in DC.

The best part of our DC trip was not DC, it was Monticello. And Mount Vernon. Make sure you take Skyline Drive!

198

Melissa A On Monday, June 10 at 11:11 am

Hi Ree,

This will be such a great opportunity for your family! A few suggestions for you, since I live in the Washington D.C. area and have been to a number of the monuments and museums with small children and just adults.

1) Skip going to the top of the Washington Monument. The windows are quite small, the wait is long, and the view is not too great. If you want a good view of the District, use the Old Post Office instead. The lines are shorter and the view is better.

2) Skip going to the White House. What you actually get to see now, with all the security, is not too impressive. Your time is better spent elsewhere.

3) Try to see the monuments during the day and at night. They have a totally different effect at night and you can get some fantastic photos.

4) Consider exploring different areas then just the typical monuments and museums. Specifically, the Adams Morgan/Zoo area is really great for wandering around, getting a meal, and checking out some embassy buildings.

5) The best place to eat on the mall is at the Museum of the Native American. Fantastic food, reasonable prices, and the only other option within walking distance is an overpriced McDonald’s.

6) Avoid Museum Fatigue. It is really easy to get overwhelmed when touring the museums and there are a LOT of wonderful options. But you know your limits the best and it will be a better experience for everybody if you can narrow down your museum choices and really enjoy them instead of trying to see everything (which is impossible anyway).

7) Really take the opportunity to let your kids navigate public transit without too much help from you. The District has a fast, cheap, and clean Metro system that is a great opportunity for families. Teaching your kids to navigate this on their own makes it easier for them to travel by themselves or friends when they get older.

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Kristen A. On Monday, June 10 at 11:12 am

First of all don’t go in the summer. Way too hot and too many people!!

Must sees:
Arlington National Cemetery (duh and ps: devote a whole day to it), Library of Congress, Capitol Hill, White House, the National Mall, National Holocaust Museum (maybe just for your older kids though. It’s pretty heavy).

Tier 2: Smithsonian’s – these are great but there are so many so just pick and choose what you want to see. Or what we did was go to the one’s with exhibits we HAD to see. Mount Vernon is great too if you want to take an excursion outside the city. The boat ride down the river is really nice after all the walking you do. Also the Pentagon if you can!

You can totally do it without a tour guide. There are lots of resources for DIY tourists and its so easy to navigate around the city.

We stayed outside the city in Alexandria, VA which was great. Its an awesome historic town and very easy to get to via the subway (the DC area has one of my favorite metro systems…so clean and easy to navigate). There are lots of great restaurants too in Alexandria. We stayed at an all suite hotel which was nice because it gave us space to not be in each others faces all vacation and we didn’t have to go out for every meal.

Hope this helps!!!

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Cindy S On Monday, June 10 at 11:13 am

I have been to Washington DC twice..the first time the summer before I started college with 4-H, and again in my early 30’s. My “must sees” are:
1. Arlington
2. Capitol Building…try to get an appointment with your elected officials…the kids will remember that FOREVER!
3. Smithsonian…the problem is that there is SO much to see…you could spend a week!

I would stay at least a week, there is SO much! You might consider staying somewhere nearby and “commute” by public transportation to your destinations. An urban experience for all! Are you sure that the Marlboro Man can take that much city time??